Celebrating God's Blessings Through Life's Peaks and Valleys
Summary
The sermon series "Peaks and Valleys" has been a guide for navigating life's changing seasons, teaching trust in God during low points and wise use of plateau periods. The speaker encourages focusing on the blessings God provides, as every good thing is a gift from Him, and Christians, having received new life in Jesus, should be the happiest people. The importance of perspective is highlighted, with an emphasis on finding reasons to be grateful even in dark times, as hope in Jesus brings joy. The congregation is urged to practice celebration, not just talk about it.
Celebration is presented as a spiritual discipline, with biblical examples of feasts, David's joy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the celebration of Jesus' birth. Heaven is depicted as a party, and the frequent biblical command to rejoice indicates its importance. The speaker explains "rejoice" as being favorably disposed to God's grace and encourages gratitude for blessings in all aspects of life. The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17, where only one returns to thank Jesus, is used to illustrate the rarity of gratitude.
The congregation is prompted to reflect on overlooked blessings and to celebrate God's role in their achievements. The speaker lists actions God performs for His people, such as forgiveness and redemption, and calls for a heartfelt celebration. The phrase "wow, thank you, Jesus" is introduced as an expression of celebration and gratitude. The speaker shares a personal story of bitterness upon reaching a mountain peak, which is transformed into awe and gratitude when a friend points out the beauty of the view.
The importance of handling life's peaks well is stressed, with personal anecdotes of climbing mountains and learning from the experiences. The speaker shares the challenges of hiking alone and the physical toll of altitude sickness, which leads to a bitter and exhausted arrival at the summit. The congregation is encouraged to say "thank you, Jesus" in both highs and lows, to focus on blessings, and to trust God in all seasons.
Key Takeaways:
- Trusting God in life's valleys is essential, as He provides strength and courage to persevere. Christians should use plateau periods to prepare for future challenges and blessings, recognizing that every good thing is a gift from God. This perspective can transform how one navigates life's ups and downs, leading to a more joyful and grateful existence.
- Gratitude is a choice that can be made regardless of circumstances. By focusing on the positive, such as the simple gift of breath or the privilege of God's presence, believers can find joy even in the midst of suffering. This shift in perspective is a powerful tool for maintaining hope and joy in life.
- Celebration is a biblical command and a spiritual discipline that acknowledges God's goodness. The frequent scriptural references to rejoicing and the depiction of heaven as a celebratory feast underscore the importance of expressing joy and gratitude for God's blessings.
- The rarity of gratitude, as illustrated by the story of the ten lepers, is a call to be the one who returns to thank Jesus. This act of thankfulness is a recognition of God's active role in our lives and a counter to the natural human tendency to overlook blessings.
- Celebrating God's grace should be a vibrant and genuine response to His actions in our lives. Encouraging the congregation to express their gratitude loudly and publicly serves as a reminder to not only acknowledge God's blessings internally but to also proclaim them to others, fostering a culture of celebration within the community.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 84:11 - "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly."
2. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
3. Luke 17:11-19 - The story of the ten lepers, where only one returns to thank Jesus.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 84:11 say about the nature of God's blessings? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about recognizing every good thing as a gift from God?
2. In John 10:10, what kind of life does Jesus say He came to give? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on Christians being the happiest people because of the new life in Jesus? [37:33]
3. In the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19), how many lepers were healed, and how many returned to thank Jesus? What does this illustrate about the rarity of gratitude? [55:47]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of God being a "sun and shield" in Psalm 84:11 help believers trust Him during life's valleys and plateaus? [35:08]
2. What does it mean to have life "to the full" as described in John 10:10? How can this perspective change a believer's approach to both peaks and valleys in life? [37:33]
3. Reflecting on the story of the ten lepers, why do you think only one returned to thank Jesus? What does this say about human nature and the importance of gratitude? [55:47]
#### Application Questions
1. Trusting in Valleys: Think about a recent low point in your life. How did you handle it? What steps can you take to trust God more during these times? [35:08]
2. Building in Plateaus: During the mundane or "meh" periods of life, how can you use this time to prepare for future challenges and blessings? What practical steps can you take to build during these seasons? [36:19]
3. Celebrating Peaks: When was the last time you experienced a "mountaintop" moment? Did you take the time to celebrate it? How can you make celebration a regular practice in your life? [48:34]
4. Gratitude Practice: Reflect on the blessings in your life that you may have overlooked. How can you make a habit of saying "wow, thank you, Jesus" daily? [47:10]
5. Perspective Shift: Identify a current challenge you are facing. How can you shift your perspective to focus on the blessings and reasons to be grateful in this situation? [01:00:22]
6. Expressing Gratitude: Think of a specific blessing or achievement in your life. How can you publicly express your gratitude for this blessing, fostering a culture of celebration within your community? [49:50]
7. Hope in Dark Times: When facing difficult times, how can you remind yourself of the hope and joy found in Jesus? What practical steps can you take to maintain this perspective? [01:04:35]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of trust, gratitude, and celebration as presented in the sermon "Peaks and Valleys." Use these questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Valleys with Trust
In life's valleys, one is not alone; God's presence offers strength and courage. These low points are opportunities for growth and preparation for what lies ahead. Recognizing God's gifts during these times can lead to a more joyful and resilient spirit. [07:40]
James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
Reflection: How can you view your current struggles as opportunities for growth and trust in God's plan for you?
Day 2: Choosing Gratitude in All Circumstances
Gratitude is a deliberate choice, not dependent on one's situation. By acknowledging even the smallest blessings, such as the breath of life, believers can maintain joy and hope. This choice can profoundly influence one's outlook and ability to endure hardships. [07:40]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What is one thing you can be thankful for today, and how can you express that gratitude to God and others?
Day 3: Celebrating as a Spiritual Act
Celebration is not just an act of joy but a spiritual discipline that acknowledges and honors God's goodness. It is a biblical command to rejoice, reflecting the celebratory nature of heaven itself. Engaging in celebration can deepen one's faith and connection to the divine. [07:40]
Luke 15:10 - "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Reflection: How can you incorporate celebration into your daily spiritual practice to honor God's goodness in your life?
Day 4: Being the One Who Returns to Give Thanks
The rarity of gratitude, as shown in the story of the ten lepers, is a reminder to be the one who returns to thank Jesus. This act of thankfulness is not only polite but a profound acknowledgment of God's active role in our lives. [07:40]
Luke 17:15-16 - "One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan."
Reflection: Can you think of a recent blessing for which you have not yet thanked God? How can you show your gratitude today?
Day 5: Proclaiming God's Grace with Awe
Celebrating God's grace should be a heartfelt and exuberant response to His work in our lives. This celebration is not just a private affair but a public declaration that can inspire and encourage others within the community. [07:40]
Psalm 150:2 - "Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness."
Reflection: What are some specific ways you can publicly celebrate God's grace in your life this week?
Quotes
"And I think that the key to navigating the peaks of our lives is found in those four little words saying, wow, thank you, Jesus. And if we can learn how to say this in the highs and we'll practice this phrase daily, I think that we'll navigate the good moments much better than anyone else." [48:30] (Download)
"In my experience, the more you celebrate, the more you're going to find to celebrate. And the opposite is sadly also true. If you don't learn how to celebrate those moments, you'll end up missing out on the moments that are really worth celebrating because you're so focused on what you don't have." [49:50] (Download)
"But I will tell you that as believers, even in the darkest valley, there is always something worth celebrating. If you will look for it, even in the worst moments, there is always something that we can be grateful for." [01:03:26] (Download)
"Celebration is a spiritual discipline that God wants you to have. God is a God of celebration... There is a celebration waiting for you when you get to heaven." [51:58] (Download)
"I may have climbed to the top of the mountain, but Jesus is the one who made the view. So I say thank you to him. And in our celebrations, we express gratitude, but we also express recognition that I'm not the one who's awesome. Jesus is the one who's awesome." [59:25] (Download)
"But if you will learn how to change your perspective, I think you'll be able to see that there's a lot more good than bad in the world. If we could learn to just adjust our perspective to see because the truth is the glass, it's always half empty and half full." [01:00:11] (Download)
"And it's when we say wow, we shift our perspective from the problem onto the problem solver. We shift our perspective from what's going wrong to what's going right. We turn our attention to the God who blesses us. And when you see how awesome God is, you can't help but say wow." [01:01:13] (Download)
"And when you are in desperate need of a miracle, he still is the God of the valleys. And he is still a miracle working God. And so we can trust him when life is at its worst." [35:13] (Download)
"But he also opens up heaven and pours out blessings on us. There are mountaintop experiences... The Lord freely gives every good thing to those who do what is right." [37:49] (Download)
"Look, Christians, we should be the happiest people on the planet because we've been given new life in Jesus. And the life he gives us is not bad or boring or mundane. It is full and good." [37:49] (Download)
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